Queenie here... I will try to keep it as short as possible. (All of this comes from either Brian May [guitar] or Roger Taylor [drummer], videos found on UA-cam, and in many articles.) "Bohemian" means different, artistic. A "Rhapsody" is a song in many parts. No one knows exactly what the song means and Brian says he is glad Freddie never explained it. Freddie said that true music is for the listener, not the artist to explain it to them. John Deacon (bass) is the 4th member of the band and created Brian's amp that has never been replicated. Those sounds like horns and violins are all Brian's guitar (that he made at home with his father when he was 16 and is still using at 76... called the Red Special) using the Deacy (pronounced Deaky) amp. All 4 were initiated individually into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, all them having #1 songs. Ones you will know are "We Are the Champions" (Freddie), "We Will Rock You" (Brian), "Under Pressure" by John - you will know it from the opening having been sampled, and "Radio Ga Ga" from Roger. 2 live video Must-Sees are "Somebody to Love" _Live Montreal 1981_ and _Queen Live Aid_ (grab the one with the most million views). Note that if you pull videos from the Queen Official Channel, they will not be blocked. Queen does not block their videos. You play Queen videos and the Queenies will come! Your reaction was freakin' amazing! LOVED it! Thank you! Enjoy the Rabbit Hole of Queen.
This breakdown was FIRE! Thank you. And that's cool as hell that they allow ppl to use their videos. I'll try one. Also gotta see if I know the Under Pressure track!
I want to thank you for explaining everything! I have to say that I was one of the lucky people who saw QUEEN love at MSG in. NYC two times years ago and they are the best! The concerts we have been to are some of the best Performances ever! Music is the best therapy for me. I have a new addiction and it's PINK ! Wouldn't it be wild to have Freddie Mercury and PINK do a duet, I know that he is gone but it could be done the way UNFORGETTABLE was re-done by Father and daughter Natalie Cole was singing live with her father Nat King Cole backing her up. It's great, give it a listen.
John Deacon is most famously known for writing “Another One Bites the Dust”. John did come up with the bass hook for “Under Pressure” but he did not wrote the whole song. The writing credits for “Under Pressure” goes to the four members of Queen and David Bowie, who happened to visit Queen in studio and the song arose from a jam session.
Not just far beyond its time, it’s timeless. Queen is unique, never was and never will be another like them. I’d include System of A Down in this category. Impossible to mistake them for anyone else.
Freddie was from Zanzibar, with parents who were Zoroastrian, an ancient, uncommon religion and growing up in the 70's as someone who's sexuality was pretty incompatible with society at large... Bohemian Rhapsody is strongly speculated to be about himself, killing his old self and accepting his new self, a fallout with his very religious family, etc.
Each musical change is another scene in the story of murder, confession, trial with opinions on both sides, forced testimony, anger at being isolated/imprisoned (?) and lastly a resigned hopelessness. It was totally clever to introduce Italian into the song like one big opera Easter egg. I agree that this was a personal journey of emotion for him. There is a saying, “One feels loneliness the most while in a crowd.” He definitely felt out of sync with the world and himself.
I just typed the same thing and Just saw your post. I was fifteen when this album came out and saw them in 1982, with Billy Squire (sp?) as the opening act. It was at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md.
Not that uncommon Persians were Zoroastrian before they all had to follow Islam 😢 many (every Iranian I’ve ever met) still celebrate certain Zoroastrian festivals like nouruz (I’m guessing they might have to do it at home and not promote the fact if they are still living in Iran)
Many people in the LGBT+ community can relate to the lyric "I sometimes wish I had never been born at all," especially when they are starting to become aware of their identity and have yet to accept themselves. In light of the fact that Freddie recorded this song in the mid-1970s, a time when LGBT+ people were uniformly demonized, tells me that Freddie was experiencing a deep level of self-deprecation because of his sexuality. Indeed, there are many other clues in this song that point toward Freddie's struggle with his sexual orientation and how to reconcile it with the expectations and tribulations imposed by others.
Respect for being honest about this not being your first time hearing the song. Too many people will act it up for the camera and lie about not hearing a song before. You're honest and keep it real, and that's what I enjoy about your channel.
Maybe he heard it before, but it is the first time he LISTENED to the lyrics and began to comprehend the song and it is that type of song needs to be heard a few times.
@@SilverFlame819 tbf for the longest time i thought this was like 5 different songs, i had heard bits and pieces of it and didn't know it was queen until like 10 years ago when i was around 15-16, so if someone asked if i had heard Bohemian rhapsody i would've said probably not
I have always heard this song as a telling of his real life struggles, being a gay man in a stringent society, told through the metaphor of a Dante's Inferno type of descent and re-emergence. He kills a man (committing sin, just like being gay was) and is sentenced to death (shunned by his family/society), his soul then descends into Hell where he goes through all the stages of grief- even bargaining with the devil to "let me go", when his pleas fail (asking for forgiveness), he settles on fighting his way through (very f*** you I don't need you) and eventually escapes to a new reality where the trials of his past life seem insignificant and dreamlike (he is finally comfortable being himself). A very relatable story told in a unique and wonderful way. What a treasure.
@@HollywoodRobTV It's funny how you think that there's a choir singing in this song. It's 3 people!!! For the grand chorale, the group layered 160 tracks of vocal overdubs (using 24-track analogue recording), with Mercury singing the middle register, May the low register, and drummer Roger Taylor the high register. John Deacon was on bass guitar but he did not sing.
One Queen song I would HIGHLY recommend is “The Show Must Go On”. There’s a lot of legend to the song, but the one I heard and like is they had finished most of it, but Freddie was dying of AIDS and they were worried he wouldn’t be able to finish it. It said he said “Watch me darling!” Slammed the rest of his vodka and finished the song in a single take. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Indeed. Even hearing it for the first time, not knowing the story behind it, I was moved by the raw power and emotion of the song... but, at the time, I just thought it was Freddie being his usual genius self. Now, knowing the history behind it, I can't listen to it without tearing up.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a Five act story told in six minutes. Our main character questioning life and reality in the intro. We learn that he has killed someone, and is telling his mother he has to run because of the crime in a very ballad type section. As the music turns operatic, he has been caught by the friends of the person he killed, and attempts to plead for his life. Having failed to convince them, the rock section charges us up as he fights to free himself, likely taking more lives to do so. In the end, it drops back into a more mellow tune, but our narrator ralizes life as he knew it is over, and everything he has worked for is gone. And we are left with a sentiment that we were brought into this with from before, he will drift through life, as if on the wind, any way the wind blows. This song is a masterpiece of music.
Remember, Freddie is one of THE big icons of the LGBT+ community, and this was released back in '75 when being gay was still demonized and being out could completely ruin your life. There's an alternate theory that the killing is a metaphor for coming out and "killing" the person you used to be. The middle section, under that interpretation, is a fight with the "sinfulness" of his passions followed by breaking free of the guilt and shame.
Dude, one of the wildest thing about this song that doesn't come out here is the way they play with stereo 'little high' in the right ear 'little low' in the left ear, the swish of the wind circling around your head and whatnot. This was back in the day of HiFi shit and it was groundbreaking even apart from how badass everything else is.
At that point in time, every one of their albums included the disclaimer "NO SYNTHESIZERS!" in the credits. Brian May (guitarist) was in college studying Mathematics and Physics while the band came together, but abandoned his studies in 1974 to go on tour. He re-enrolled in 2006 and earned a doctorate in Astrophysics in 2007.
It's probably already been said but their 1985 Live Aid concert should be on your short list of reactions to come. It is generally considered one of the greatest performances by a rock band of all time. It's a bit of a journey but seeing Freddy and crew perform live will give you a new appreciation for what Queen is capable of doing.
Thank you for this reaction. That's a great analogy... this song is a priceless painting. Freddie was the Vincent Van Gogh of this masterpiece and the boys all added their brush strokes to bring the magic alive. I recently joined youtube just to be part of the Queen army and comment. I was born into a family of Queen lovers. Love to the Queen army💖💖💖💖
Agree, it’s a perfect analogy. @robteevee you should check out the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, there’s a lot about how the song was composed and recorded. The record company thought Freddie was mad when he took the idea to them 😂 a great performance by Rami Malek too.
Queen is the greatest band of all time! Lead guitar is Brian May; bass is John Deacon; drummer is Roger Taylor. That operatic section is just those four guys. No opera or choir. Just their amazing voices. Roger Taylor the drummer has a high falsetto voice and it’s his voice you hear singing Galileo in the operatic section. Queen has a huge fan base so bring on more Queen. We love watching people hear their music for the first time ❤
When you mention Brian May you should always mention he finished his astrophysics PhD long after Queen. Another was an Electrical engineer and Freddy was the only one who wasn’t talented at STEM. And he was just naturally talented at manipulating physics.
@@HealthAtAnyCost having an art degree is not the same of as the hard requirements of engineering. We can’t really quantify art skills, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I’d argue there are few degreed engineers who have contributed as much to human joy as Freddy Mercury.
@@ivorjawa I hear you, but none of the band has ever discounted Freddie's prestigious 4-year degree. He created the Queen logo and how precious is that?
If you love this song, you should REALLY listen to Don't Stop Me Now, and their collab song with David Bowie, Under Pressure. Oh, they also did Killer Queen and Somebody To Love.
My dude… you randomly popped up in my recommended and I’ve been having fun watching your reactions. I started laughing when you said you were from Youngstown. Hi from Warren 🙋🏾♀️i knew i recognized the humor
I vote YES to recommending songs that you like back to the audience! It's something I haven't seen in other reaction videos, and as a music fan, I'm always interested in what else is out there that I haven't heard yet. Stand out, and get fans for artists you love? No losing, really
There are some bands that are just special. Pink Floyd is another band whose music has the power to transform your entire vibe. I can't wait until you discover Pink Floyd. It isn't just a song... they create soundscapes that take you to another place.
Just recently discovered you, already a fan. You don't just react, you actually listen. I love that you find many songs in your videos that make you want to hit the gym
Freddie mercury and Prince were probably the two most talented musicians of their generation. Freddie for his vocal range and stage presence and Prince for his prodigious natural talent for all aspects of music.
Queen is a British rock band that was formed in 1970 and was comprised of: Freddie Mercury - Lead vocals and piano Roger Taylor - Drummer and vocals Brian May - Lead guitar and vocals John Deacon - Bass guitar Queen have released 15 studio albums, 10 live albums, 16 compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, 2 extended plays, 73 singles, and seven promotional singles. "Bohemian Rhapsody", which was released originally in 1975, is the creation of Freddie Mercury but he never told anyone what he was thinking when he wrote the lyrics. Freddie tended to write in metaphors so I would not suggest taking any of his songs literally. He wanted listeners to be able to apply to the song whatever meaning it had to them personally. Not what it meant to him. BTW - Freddie did admit that "Bohemian Rhapsody" was composed of three separate songs that he had been working on but could not seem to finish. So he decided to mash them together, adding some transitions and bridges, and created "Bohemian Rhapsody". "Bohemian Rhapsody" can be broken down into 6 parts: Part I is the "Into". The video image shows the four members of Queen singing and harmonizing the lyrics of the "Intro" in A cappella. In reality, it is only Freddie's voice you hear on the recording. Freddie laid down 5 separate tracks of himself singing and harmonizing with himself. (FYI - multi-tracking and overdubbing runs rampant in Bohemian Rhapsody.) Next is the "Ballad" portion of the song ('Mama, just killed a man'). Freddie had worked on it for years but the song never had a name. The other members of Queen tentatively titled it "Freddie's Cowboy Song". The lyricist Tim Rice (who wrote the lyrics for "Jesus Christ, Superstar", "Evita", "Aladdin", "The Lion King", ...) was a close friend of Freddie's and he believes this portion of the song’s lyrics were about Mercury confessing to his fans that he was gay. The third section is the guitar solo. This is the only part of Bohemian Rhapsody not written by Freddie. Freddie told Brian that he wanted a guitar solo in the song and where he wanted it to fit into the song but left it to Brian to create. Brian wanted to have his guitar effectively sing a verse that would inject a different melody. He heard something in his head. He said that he could hear this melody and had no idea where it came from. That melody isn’t anywhere else in the song, but it’s on a familiar chord sequence, so it dovetails in quite nicely. The guitar solo leads to the fourth section which is the "Operatic" section. Freddie not only loved Rock but he loved Opera. He was always fascinated with the idea of combining rock and opera. It took 3 weeks to record "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the "Operatic" section was much smaller when they began recording but Freddie kept adding to it. Various lyrics in the "Operatic" section seem to refer to the band... * Freddie casts himself as Scaramouch, a stock clown of 16th-century Italian literature. * Galileo who was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer definitely refers to Brian (Queen's lead guitarist) who in real life is Dr. Brian May, who has a Ph.D.in Astrophysics. * Figaro refers to the Mozart opera, "The Marriage of Figaro" and it is a subtle way to reference Roger Taylor (Queen's drummer) who has a four-range vocal span (E2-E6) and was even frequently cited as hitting E5 in live performances. Freddie compared Roger's voice to a dog whistle. * The final reference of Magnifico is John Deacon (Queen's bass guitarist), who has not just a BSc but a First Class Honors Degree in Electronics. John is the creator of the "Deacy Amp". When Brian's homemade electric guitar (dubbed The Red Special) was connected through a treble-booster (an effects unit used by guitarists to increase the high end of their tonal spectrum) to the "Deacy Amp", Brian could produce sounds reminiscent of various orchestral instruments, such as violin, cello, trombone, clarinet, or even vocals from his guitar. It is hard to realize that it is only Freddie, Brian, and Roger singing in the "Operatic" section (John never sang on the records). This was 1975, well before digital recordings and they were using 24-track analog tape. This made it necessary for the three to overdub themselves many times and "bounce" these down to successive sub-mixes. Some sections feature 180 separate overdubs! The fifth section is the "Hard Rock" portion. In this section, Freddie sings angry lyrics addressed to an unspecified "you", accusing them of betrayal and abuse and insisting "can't do this to me, baby", before the final lines conclude with him singing, "just gotta get right outta here". (FYI - the "Operatic" and the "Hard Rock" sections of BoRap were featured in a scene in the 1992 film Wayne's World, in which the main character and his friends head bang in a car to the rock part.) In the sixth and final section, the "Outré", returns to the "Ballad" to close the circle of the song and ends with the sound of a Chinese gong.
To me it's not just that they're genius musicians, it's that they're the ones singing it. When someone really feels what they're singing and they put their whole life experiences into it you get something that hits you in a way nothing else could.
That difference is what makes me roll my eyes at so many of the mass-market acts of today. They're talented performers, but they're not creating anything. They're just dogs doing tricks for the studio paying them.
All these years later, as a Mom of a young man, when I hear this song it hits differently now; the thought of watching your son throw his life away is terrifying. So far so good! 😂
I havent been so fortunate, I have 3 sons and one daughter, and 2 off my sons (40, 26) are/were deeply into their addictions, my 40 year old son is currently incarcerated, and now my youngest son is going to be heading that way. He is up on charges that could get him 10 years… It has destroyed our family but we support and love them nonetheless unconditionally. Im just grateful I live in Canada where Federal prisons are half decent and I can visit as often as I want. May you continue to be blessed on your journey! ❤❤❤❤
I heard this one for the first time with one of my neighbors. 3 musicians, brothers. They played it like 10 times in a row no kidding and each time we were hearing it was a novelty. An absolute great time. We had to rewind it each time, a freaking tape cassette! 70's musicians had all the package of the past, only instruments, great composers, singers, writers and performers.
Love your video! I grew up with Queen, saw them in 1978 in St Louis MO. I was 16. Queen's music relates to people of all ages and music types. Freddie was from Zanzibar originally, but he considered the UK his home. He would have known that at that time, there had never been a "brown" rockstar. Freddie never told the meaning of this song, only that is was about relationships. Some people speculate that it was him coming to terms with his sexuality. But regardless, it's just a wonderful song. Yes, I can see where people growing up in violence now could relate to the lyrics. Brian May is an amazing guitarist! When his solo starts it reminds me of a caged tiger that was finally let loose after waiting patiently for his turn. There is so much wonderful rock & roll from the 70s and there is no bad song by Queen! Keep listening and keep rocking! *peace*✌
No it never yanks trying to take praise for something that had absolutely nothing to do with them bohemian rhapsody has never lost its popularity in the UK 🤬
@@raywarrington9 first off, not a yank. Second off, worldwide popularity. It's great that it was always a banger in Queen's homeland because it's a banger. Just a brilliant piece of music overall. Have a great day and be good people yall!
Music has the ability to change your mood and sometimes your mind… when you get the goosebumps, your body is physically reacting to something so powerful that your energy field changes …your hairs shifting and your skin texture changing confirms that biologically, music is more powerful than you may think ❤
Exactly! Rush band members were so intelligent. English lit majors, etc. When everyone else was singing the same 2 lines over and over, RUSH was singing intelligent lyrics that were brainy!
I wish I could listen to this song for the first time again. Bohemian Rhapsody is personally my favorite song of all time. This song was one of the few instances where I was immediately hooked the first time I listened to this song. What’s remarkable is that Freddie Mercury wrote and composed this entire song himself, a truly generational talent. Not only does Freddie have one of the most iconic and powerful voices in rock, but he is also one of the greatest frontmen and live performers of all time. You should definitely check out Queen’s live performances and just see how Freddie absolutely held the audience in the palm of his hand.
Your reaction is wonderful :) You could do a whole series of Queen through the decades until Freddie was taken from us too soon and even after to see how incredible this band was, is, and always will be in the ways they change up their style while still remaining THEM at the core and how incredible their innovations and musicality. Brian May, the lead guitarist, is also an astrophysicist which is utterly astounding, too. Their discography is unbelievable.
People who are experts in singing and music have said that although they didn’t have the same tools to measure someone’s singing during the time Freddie was performing they estimate that he had one of the widest vocal ranges in a man ever! I know he had 3 octaves though
I love the idea of adding a hiphop/rap song recommendation at the end, as someone who never really experienced good hiphop/rap. What would be cool is if you recommended a good one that tackled the same issues as the rock song that you just reviewed. Really tie the two together with a common archetype.
This song is a classic , beloved song around the entire world , in every country. Loved your reaction. This is Freddie’s coming out song. The man he killed is Farrukh, Balsara ( his birth name) , so that Freddie Mercury could live. It’s his life in 3 parts. He started writing it in college . Your really great! Keep doing Queen and all of us Queenies will be with you. If you do Queen , you have to do them live, or your missing out.
I love your reactions! You are always so genuine. Being open about you hearing this song before shows that. Keep up the good work! There is so much music to explore (regardless of the skin tone of the people who made the music).
You should check out their movie soundtrack for "Highlander" Particularly "Who wants to live forever" Live from Budapest. I dare you not to tear up or outright cry! The whole soundtrack is some of their heaviest shit they did!
Love, love Queen, and especially this song! Rob, you should really watch the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody. It's pretty great, and gives a decent view into what Freddie's life was like during the forming, and success, of Queen.
I think what would be fire would be finding a rap song you are reminded of by the song you're listening to, and analyzing and comparing the two tracks. If you're looking for vivid and visceral lyricism, anything by Lou Reed would be good. Walk on the Wild Side might be recognizable since Tribe used its very famous bass line as part of the beat to Can I Kick It? But I also think Heroin off of their 1967 album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, would be a fascinating one to cover.
Just found your channel going by the thumbnail I thought you were twins🤣🤣 Bohemian Rhapsody has had a billion views on UA-cam. And for the last hundred years we have had football in the UK. Queen's songs are also used in a lot of commercials. Great reaction to legendary Queen. Check out what Freddie Mercury thinks what was even a better song that he wrote called somebody to love live HD Montreal.❤🇬🇧 X
No matter how many times I hear it, it always fascinates me most that this just exists. The fact it was made, as is. Just its "being here" is too amazing to me to really get sick of it.
I adore Queen. Thanks! This song was written by Freddie Mercury the lead singer and legend. To him the songs were about the music. He let listeners decide what the song meant to them personally. Yes, Freddie was an artist born to produce musical art. Luckily the universe put him with Dr. Brian May is the guitarist (& astrophysicist), John Deacon is the bass player, ( & electrical engineer), Roger Taylor is the drummer and has an amazing high voice so he often was the back up singer. All 4 members wrote hit songs and are in the songwriters hall of fame. Their song catalog is long. Keep going.
Just gotta say how great it is watching you love this sh*t! 57 year old chick here and I'm STILL banging my head to Rage Against the Machine, Disturbed, and Nine Inch Nails, which you should hear if you haven't yet. Loving you Rob! Thanks for all you do my friend!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Love this song, and enjoyed this reaction. If you love the thought of how someone created this conceptually, you should look into how they made it with the technology of the time. This was the first of its kind too.
Queen is so sick. I would definitely love to see you do some more Queen reactions. Also if you like cool switch ups in songs "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead would be a good one to do.
Freddie once said his favorite instrument...was the audience. His stage presence and skill show him to be able to control audience interaction. The Freddie strut on stage was 100 percent ace. Brian May and his father actually built the guitar he's playing. Brian holds a doctorate in astrophysics. Try listening to the drummer as he sings. In any band other than Queen he would be lead vocalist...his top range is higher than Freddy's. Try Queen's live performance at Wembly its considered one of the best live performances ever. It includes "We are the Champions, " We will Rock You" and opens with Bohemian Rhapsody. This group is classic and timeless...check out the crowd singing on Green day 20 years or so after Freddie passed.
Yesterday, I heard the remaining members of the band just sold all of the rights to their music to Sony for over a billion dollars; like $1.7 billion. Freddie was Iranian blood.
I put bomb over baghdad and street spirit in the same category as bohemian rhapsody. outkast is great at the switch up too! and radiohead if you haven't gone there yet
7:23 I agree, I would love that! Maybe based on the song being featured? Like, “if you like this Queen song, I think you might like this rap song/artist.”
The Bohemian Rhapsody movie was really fantastic if you want an entertaining way to learn more about Queen. You’ll be amazed by how many hit songs they have that you might not have thought was them.
Great to see you back! Have a listen to “Another one bites the dust”, the bass line alone will get you pumped! Keep up with the high energy, it’s infectious!
Bro I would *love* some hiphop recs in these vids, especially if you have some songs that have a similar vibe to whatever you're reacting to, whether lyrically or sonically or whatever. Also, I'm curious if you have any opinion on some of my favorite (white boy) hip hop artists, like Sage Francis, Brother Ali, or Aesop Rock.
I totally get where you were coming from! I am so impressed by many forms of art and their artists and consider they are special people and Freddie and all members of Queen are special and talented people.
Queen are all time greats! Love your reactions to these rock songs. I know you checked out some Tool a while back, but have you heard A Perfect Circle? Same singer as Tool but different band. "So long and thanks for all the fish" is excellent, and the video is amazing too. Would love to see your reaction to that.
You should check out "Enter Sandman" live in Moscow.... probably the largest craziest crowd assembled in all of human history, lol. Or, do Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" live at the Oakland Coliseum. Also, "Ghost Love Score" by Nightwish, live at Wacken Music Festival. The last one is Symphonic Metal... some hard metal, mixed with the most beautiful voice you'll ever hear in your life... making a unique mix...
Yo you gotta hear them do The Show Must Go On. Apparently it was recorded only days before he died while he was very ill. By far my favorite Queen song of all time.
I hope you watch the official version some time. It's very immpressive. It's been sung without music by audiences all over the world-check out Hyde Park and Brazil. It was inducted into the Library of Congress last year as a cultural icon. A well deserved honor.
I don't understand why Rob doesnt have more subscribers. this fucking channel should be a couple of millions in by now. keep out the great work bro!!! and don't forget to wake up tiger knee.
It's become something of a theme with UA-cam reactors who primary lean on Hiphop to discover the lyricism of Rock and Metal. Glad to see the communities getting closer together slowly.
If you enjoy music that changes up a lot, I URGE you to listen to Rush. They have lots of changes in the middle of songs, it's so freaking awesome. I'd recommend of course "Tom Sawyer", but also "YYZ", "The Spirit of Radio", "Limelight" and "Working Man"
Love your reactions, they’re so honest and funny 😅. I don’t think you only have to react to things you’ve never heard before or you have to like everything you react to, as long as your feedback is real and authentic. You could react to things you listen all the time, like hip hop, break it down for people that don’t necessarily listen to it. I would watch that. I’m a from Eastern Europe and been listening to all kinds of music all my life but American hip hop has always been difficult for me to get into because of the language and cultural barriers. I laughed so hard at your shock when you realized Queen was from the UK, I was equally shocked back in the day when I found out Rolling Stones were English, I could’ve sworn they were from the US because they sound so bluesy 😂🤷🏻♀️
I've always felt the song was essentially about refusing to be slave to circumstance. A dire mistake is made, it seems like life is over, he's pleading for help, doesn't want to die. Then all these people start fighting over him, save him, don't save him, calling on Gods and devils. But in the end he chooses for himself - that it doesn't matter if he lives or dies. The structure of the song always led me to think that's what does matter - how you choose to live and die. Make it epic and fantastical and inspiring as much as you can while you're in it. That's the rhapsody.
YES PLEASE to rap recommendations! I am tragically undercultured. There's a lot of rap I love but I just haven't heard very much and it's hard to keep up with all my musical interests.
Your journey down the Queen path cannot be complete without Bohemian Rhapsody. In fact, your journey into great MUSIC of the past cannot be complete without Bohemian Rhapsody! Bohemian Rhapsody, was released in 1975 on the album "A Night at the Opera" which does give a hint as to the musical genre. Freddie Mercury was a huge fan of opera so this song was written as an operatic suite consisting of five distinct parts: an acapella intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock section, and a reflective coda. Generally it is classified as rock-and-roll, but specifically as a "rock opera" and "progressive rock." Truth is, labeling any Queen song, or Queen the band, is next to impossible! "Bohemian" describes an unconventional, artistic style with freedom and individuality as key elements. "Rhapsody" in musical composition refers to a single work comprised of episodic, diverse pieces arranged into a free-flowing structure designed to heighten emotions. This song came to be because Freddie had pieces of songs he never completed, so he put them together, each section totally different yet masterfully blended into a truly epic masterpiece. It is the band's magnum opus, and is unanimously considered one of the best songs ever written. As for the meaning of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Freddie was purposefully vague. As with most of the greatest songs, the lyrics are written to be poetic and mysterious. Are they literal or figurative? As separate pieces initially, should the song have a singular meaning? Who knows! The meaning is open to interpretation for each listener to decide, based on how the music and lyrics touched them. You will read comments claiming the song's meaning, but the fact is, the entire band has never stating a specific meaning and has been firm that there isn't one, or if Freddie DID have a specific interpretation, he never shared it.
Been a minute since I’ve been watching street fighter but as a white boy who was in to most of this music already I gotta say I love this series. Just really love watching you enjoy music.
Great reaction, thank you! Queen did not write “Take me out to the ballgame” but boy do you have a huge catalogue of Queen song to delve into, if you do more Queen the Queen army will come, but pls remember the golden rule, never ever pause during a Brian May guitar solo or that same Queen army will come down hard on you!🤣 You must do their set at Live Aid, 21 mins of sheer brilliance, you will love it! Also “Somebody to Love” live at Montreal in 1985. One of my all time favourites! Love from Australia 🇦🇺
Wow man, you rock, I adore when a handsome young man like you shows his enthusiasm for an old song !!!! Even if this song is an absolute masterpiece, thank you !!!!
Queenie here... I will try to keep it as short as possible. (All of this comes from either Brian May [guitar] or Roger Taylor [drummer], videos found on UA-cam, and in many articles.) "Bohemian" means different, artistic. A "Rhapsody" is a song in many parts. No one knows exactly what the song means and Brian says he is glad Freddie never explained it. Freddie said that true music is for the listener, not the artist to explain it to them. John Deacon (bass) is the 4th member of the band and created Brian's amp that has never been replicated. Those sounds like horns and violins are all Brian's guitar (that he made at home with his father when he was 16 and is still using at 76... called the Red Special) using the Deacy (pronounced Deaky) amp. All 4 were initiated individually into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, all them having #1 songs. Ones you will know are "We Are the Champions" (Freddie), "We Will Rock You" (Brian), "Under Pressure" by John - you will know it from the opening having been sampled, and "Radio Ga Ga" from Roger. 2 live video Must-Sees are "Somebody to Love" _Live Montreal 1981_ and _Queen Live Aid_ (grab the one with the most million views). Note that if you pull videos from the Queen Official Channel, they will not be blocked. Queen does not block their videos. You play Queen videos and the Queenies will come! Your reaction was freakin' amazing! LOVED it! Thank you! Enjoy the Rabbit Hole of Queen.
This breakdown was FIRE! Thank you. And that's cool as hell that they allow ppl to use their videos. I'll try one. Also gotta see if I know the Under Pressure track!
@@HollywoodRobTV If you've heard Vanilla Ice, you've heard Under Pressure, or at least a worse version of it.
@@HollywoodRobTV now you should try their song innuendo
I want to thank you for explaining everything! I have to say that I was one of the lucky people who saw QUEEN love at MSG in. NYC two times years ago and they are the best! The concerts we have been to are some of the best Performances ever! Music is the best therapy for me. I have a new addiction and it's PINK ! Wouldn't it be wild to have Freddie Mercury and PINK do a duet, I know that he is gone but it could be done the way
UNFORGETTABLE was re-done by Father and daughter Natalie Cole was singing live with her father Nat King Cole backing her up. It's great, give it a listen.
John Deacon is most famously known for writing “Another One Bites the Dust”. John did come up with the bass hook for “Under Pressure” but he did not wrote the whole song. The writing credits for “Under Pressure” goes to the four members of Queen and David Bowie, who happened to visit Queen in studio and the song arose from a jam session.
"It feels like a painting"
That is possibly the best explanation of this song I have ever heard.
Every time I hear this song I have to consciously remind myself this was recorded and mixed in 1975
This song was so far ahead of its time
And to think the label wanted them to take this song off the album. Crazy.
💯
That's when I first heard it on the radio. I was a young mum with a baby and now I'm 74 years old. Quite spectacular in its time then.
The 70s had some of the best sounding records and mixes of all time. It's very much "of its time," not ahead of it
Not just far beyond its time, it’s timeless. Queen is unique, never was and never will be another like them. I’d include System of A Down in this category. Impossible to mistake them for anyone else.
Freddie was from Zanzibar, with parents who were Zoroastrian, an ancient, uncommon religion and growing up in the 70's as someone who's sexuality was pretty incompatible with society at large... Bohemian Rhapsody is strongly speculated to be about himself, killing his old self and accepting his new self, a fallout with his very religious family, etc.
Exceptional reply- thank you from a fellow Queen and especially Freddie Mercury fan!! Since 1976
Each musical change is another scene in the story of murder, confession, trial with opinions on both sides, forced testimony, anger at being isolated/imprisoned (?) and lastly a resigned hopelessness. It was totally clever to introduce Italian into the song like one big opera Easter egg. I agree that this was a personal journey of emotion for him. There is a saying, “One feels loneliness the most while in a crowd.” He definitely felt out of sync with the world and himself.
I just typed the same thing and Just saw your post. I was fifteen when this album came out and saw them in 1982, with Billy Squire (sp?) as the opening act. It was at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md.
Not that uncommon Persians were Zoroastrian before they all had to follow Islam 😢 many (every Iranian I’ve ever met) still celebrate certain Zoroastrian festivals like nouruz (I’m guessing they might have to do it at home and not promote the fact if they are still living in Iran)
Many people in the LGBT+ community can relate to the lyric "I sometimes wish I had never been born at all," especially when they are starting to become aware of their identity and have yet to accept themselves. In light of the fact that Freddie recorded this song in the mid-1970s, a time when LGBT+ people were uniformly demonized, tells me that Freddie was experiencing a deep level of self-deprecation because of his sexuality. Indeed, there are many other clues in this song that point toward Freddie's struggle with his sexual orientation and how to reconcile it with the expectations and tribulations imposed by others.
Respect for being honest about this not being your first time hearing the song. Too many people will act it up for the camera and lie about not hearing a song before. You're honest and keep it real, and that's what I enjoy about your channel.
100 percent right, i hate that i literally do not trust the majority of reactions on youtube
Maybe he heard it before, but it is the first time he LISTENED to the lyrics and began to comprehend the song and it is that type of song needs to be heard a few times.
i wouldnt believe it anyway with this song, this is too famous of a song to have never heard before
I've seen so many videos where people are like, "I've never heard this before!" and I'm like -- the fuck you haven't. XD
@@SilverFlame819 tbf for the longest time i thought this was like 5 different songs, i had heard bits and pieces of it and didn't know it was queen until like 10 years ago when i was around 15-16, so if someone asked if i had heard Bohemian rhapsody i would've said probably not
I have always heard this song as a telling of his real life struggles, being a gay man in a stringent society, told through the metaphor of a Dante's Inferno type of descent and re-emergence. He kills a man (committing sin, just like being gay was) and is sentenced to death (shunned by his family/society), his soul then descends into Hell where he goes through all the stages of grief- even bargaining with the devil to "let me go", when his pleas fail (asking for forgiveness), he settles on fighting his way through (very f*** you I don't need you) and eventually escapes to a new reality where the trials of his past life seem insignificant and dreamlike (he is finally comfortable being himself). A very relatable story told in a unique and wonderful way. What a treasure.
Don't forget "Another One Bites the Dust" from Queen! It's the one with the killer baseline.
Goddamn they're legendary lmaooo. Didn't know they made that
They also had dragon attack that had a nasty bass line. It was John’s favorite song to do live if I remember correctly.
Pure disco 🪩❤
John’s bass lines are awesome, Deaky, is Queens secret weapon for sure!
@@HollywoodRobTV It's funny how you think that there's a choir singing in this song. It's 3 people!!! For the grand chorale, the group layered 160 tracks of vocal overdubs (using 24-track analogue recording), with Mercury singing the middle register, May the low register, and drummer Roger Taylor the high register. John Deacon was on bass guitar but he did not sing.
Freddy Mercury, Michael Jackson, Prince … all unnaturally talented gods taken from us too soon.
As they say, "Heaven has one hell of a band"
Elvis...
@@LeroyBrown84 was a hero to some but he never meant shit to me.
@@ivorjawa R. Kelly... ? 😱🙈
Better add David Bowie and George Michael to that list, too.
One Queen song I would HIGHLY recommend is “The Show Must Go On”. There’s a lot of legend to the song, but the one I heard and like is they had finished most of it, but Freddie was dying of AIDS and they were worried he wouldn’t be able to finish it.
It said he said “Watch me darling!” Slammed the rest of his vodka and finished the song in a single take.
Heartbreakingly beautiful.
Indeed.
Even hearing it for the first time, not knowing the story behind it, I was moved by the raw power and emotion of the song... but, at the time, I just thought it was Freddie being his usual genius self. Now, knowing the history behind it, I can't listen to it without tearing up.
He was a pioneer on many fronts and that’s why people are still reacting to their music all these years later and long after he’s passed.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a Five act story told in six minutes. Our main character questioning life and reality in the intro. We learn that he has killed someone, and is telling his mother he has to run because of the crime in a very ballad type section. As the music turns operatic, he has been caught by the friends of the person he killed, and attempts to plead for his life. Having failed to convince them, the rock section charges us up as he fights to free himself, likely taking more lives to do so. In the end, it drops back into a more mellow tune, but our narrator ralizes life as he knew it is over, and everything he has worked for is gone. And we are left with a sentiment that we were brought into this with from before, he will drift through life, as if on the wind, any way the wind blows.
This song is a masterpiece of music.
love this!
This is a phenomenal breakdown
Wonderful explanation of Bohemian Rhapsody! Just great.
Remember, Freddie is one of THE big icons of the LGBT+ community, and this was released back in '75 when being gay was still demonized and being out could completely ruin your life.
There's an alternate theory that the killing is a metaphor for coming out and "killing" the person you used to be. The middle section, under that interpretation, is a fight with the "sinfulness" of his passions followed by breaking free of the guilt and shame.
@@Just_A_DudeI honestly don’t dig with that theory. Its reaching alot.
Dude, one of the wildest thing about this song that doesn't come out here is the way they play with stereo 'little high' in the right ear 'little low' in the left ear, the swish of the wind circling around your head and whatnot. This was back in the day of HiFi shit and it was groundbreaking even apart from how badass everything else is.
At that point in time, every one of their albums included the disclaimer "NO SYNTHESIZERS!" in the credits. Brian May (guitarist) was in college studying Mathematics and Physics while the band came together, but abandoned his studies in 1974 to go on tour. He re-enrolled in 2006 and earned a doctorate in Astrophysics in 2007.
@@themonkeytrainer Good on him. At this point, May has basically won at life; now's the time to make sure he finishes his bucket list.
It's probably already been said but their 1985 Live Aid concert should be on your short list of reactions to come. It is generally considered one of the greatest performances by a rock band of all time. It's a bit of a journey but seeing Freddy and crew perform live will give you a new appreciation for what Queen is capable of doing.
Thank you for this reaction. That's a great analogy... this song is a priceless painting. Freddie was the Vincent Van Gogh of this masterpiece and the boys all added their brush strokes to bring the magic alive. I recently joined youtube just to be part of the Queen army and comment. I was born into a family of Queen lovers. Love to the Queen army💖💖💖💖
Agree, it’s a perfect analogy. @robteevee you should check out the movie Bohemian Rhapsody, there’s a lot about how the song was composed and recorded. The record company thought Freddie was mad when he took the idea to them 😂 a great performance by Rami Malek too.
Exactly what I was going to say. Thanks!
Queen is the greatest band of all time! Lead guitar is Brian May; bass is John Deacon; drummer is Roger Taylor. That operatic section is just those four guys. No opera or choir. Just their amazing voices. Roger Taylor the drummer has a high falsetto voice and it’s his voice you hear singing Galileo in the operatic section. Queen has a huge fan base so bring on more Queen. We love watching people hear their music for the first time ❤
When you mention Brian May you should always mention he finished his astrophysics PhD long after Queen. Another was an Electrical engineer and Freddy was the only one who wasn’t talented at STEM. And he was just naturally talented at manipulating physics.
@@ivorjawa yes I know but I wasn’t going to get into all of that
@@ivorjawa Freddie had a Degree in Art and Design. All of them were degreed. Dr. Brian May is now Dr. Sir Brian May, recently knighted.
@@HealthAtAnyCost having an art degree is not the same of as the hard requirements of engineering. We can’t really quantify art skills, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
I’d argue there are few degreed engineers who have contributed as much to human joy as Freddy Mercury.
@@ivorjawa I hear you, but none of the band has ever discounted Freddie's prestigious 4-year degree. He created the Queen logo and how precious is that?
They did NOT make "take me out to the ballgame". They made We Will Rock You. Good stuff Rob, keep doing your thing fam.
And they made We Are The Champions both it and We Will Rock You are sung at sports events all over the world. Just a couple of their songs.
Queen had been around for a while, but "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" was written in 1908. They're not quite that old. 😀
Yeah at that point I'm like “Yeah, you're trippin'!” lol
It’s remarkable that this amazing weird ass song was such a huge hit. It’s truly timeless.
If you love this song, you should REALLY listen to Don't Stop Me Now, and their collab song with David Bowie, Under Pressure. Oh, they also did Killer Queen and Somebody To Love.
My dude… you randomly popped up in my recommended and I’ve been having fun watching your reactions. I started laughing when you said you were from Youngstown. Hi from Warren 🙋🏾♀️i knew i recognized the humor
"See. A song like that I just don't think regular humans can make." The best description of Queen evah! 👑
I vote YES to recommending songs that you like back to the audience! It's something I haven't seen in other reaction videos, and as a music fan, I'm always interested in what else is out there that I haven't heard yet. Stand out, and get fans for artists you love? No losing, really
There are some bands that are just special. Pink Floyd is another band whose music has the power to transform your entire vibe. I can't wait until you discover Pink Floyd. It isn't just a song... they create soundscapes that take you to another place.
Just recently discovered you, already a fan. You don't just react, you actually listen. I love that you find many songs in your videos that make you want to hit the gym
Freddie mercury and Prince were probably the two most talented musicians of their generation. Freddie for his vocal range and stage presence and Prince for his prodigious natural talent for all aspects of music.
Queen is a British rock band that was formed in 1970 and was comprised of:
Freddie Mercury - Lead vocals and piano
Roger Taylor - Drummer and vocals
Brian May - Lead guitar and vocals
John Deacon - Bass guitar
Queen have released 15 studio albums, 10 live albums, 16 compilation albums, two soundtrack albums, 2 extended plays, 73 singles, and seven promotional singles.
"Bohemian Rhapsody", which was released originally in 1975, is the creation of Freddie Mercury but he never told anyone what he was thinking when he wrote the lyrics. Freddie tended to write in metaphors so I would not suggest taking any of his songs literally. He wanted listeners to be able to apply to the song whatever meaning it had to them personally. Not what it meant to him.
BTW - Freddie did admit that "Bohemian Rhapsody" was composed of three separate songs that he had been working on but could not seem to finish. So he decided to mash them together, adding some transitions and bridges, and created "Bohemian Rhapsody".
"Bohemian Rhapsody" can be broken down into 6 parts:
Part I is the "Into". The video image shows the four members of Queen singing and harmonizing the lyrics of the "Intro" in A cappella. In reality, it is only Freddie's voice you hear on the recording. Freddie laid down 5 separate tracks of himself singing and harmonizing with himself. (FYI - multi-tracking and overdubbing runs rampant in Bohemian Rhapsody.)
Next is the "Ballad" portion of the song ('Mama, just killed a man'). Freddie had worked on it for years but the song never had a name. The other members of Queen tentatively titled it "Freddie's Cowboy Song". The lyricist Tim Rice (who wrote the lyrics for "Jesus Christ, Superstar", "Evita", "Aladdin", "The Lion King", ...) was a close friend of Freddie's and he believes this portion of the song’s lyrics were about Mercury confessing to his fans that he was gay.
The third section is the guitar solo. This is the only part of Bohemian Rhapsody not written by Freddie. Freddie told Brian that he wanted a guitar solo in the song and where he wanted it to fit into the song but left it to Brian to create. Brian wanted to have his guitar effectively sing a verse that would inject a different melody. He heard something in his head. He said that he could hear this melody and had no idea where it came from. That melody isn’t anywhere else in the song, but it’s on a familiar chord sequence, so it dovetails in quite nicely.
The guitar solo leads to the fourth section which is the "Operatic" section. Freddie not only loved Rock but he loved Opera. He was always fascinated with the idea of combining rock and opera. It took 3 weeks to record "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the "Operatic" section was much smaller when they began recording but Freddie kept adding to it.
Various lyrics in the "Operatic" section seem to refer to the band...
* Freddie casts himself as Scaramouch, a stock clown of 16th-century Italian literature.
* Galileo who was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer definitely refers to Brian (Queen's lead guitarist) who in real life is Dr. Brian May, who has a Ph.D.in Astrophysics.
* Figaro refers to the Mozart opera, "The Marriage of Figaro" and it is a subtle way to reference Roger Taylor (Queen's drummer) who has a four-range vocal span (E2-E6) and was even frequently cited as hitting E5 in live performances. Freddie compared Roger's voice to a dog whistle.
* The final reference of Magnifico is John Deacon (Queen's bass guitarist), who has not just a BSc but a First Class Honors Degree in Electronics. John is the creator of the "Deacy Amp". When Brian's homemade electric guitar (dubbed The Red Special) was connected through a treble-booster (an effects unit used by guitarists to increase the high end of their tonal spectrum) to the "Deacy Amp", Brian could produce sounds reminiscent of various orchestral instruments, such as violin, cello, trombone, clarinet, or even vocals from his guitar.
It is hard to realize that it is only Freddie, Brian, and Roger singing in the "Operatic" section (John never sang on the records). This was 1975, well before digital recordings and they were using 24-track analog tape. This made it necessary for the three to overdub themselves many times and "bounce" these down to successive sub-mixes. Some sections feature 180 separate overdubs!
The fifth section is the "Hard Rock" portion. In this section, Freddie sings angry lyrics addressed to an unspecified "you", accusing them of betrayal and abuse and insisting "can't do this to me, baby", before the final lines conclude with him singing, "just gotta get right outta here".
(FYI - the "Operatic" and the "Hard Rock" sections of BoRap were featured in a scene in the 1992 film Wayne's World, in which the main character and his friends head bang in a car to the rock part.)
In the sixth and final section, the "Outré", returns to the "Ballad" to close the circle of the song and ends with the sound of a Chinese gong.
“I don’t think regular people can make that song” is such an accurate take. It really is like being on some kind of rollercoaster. An experience.
To me it's not just that they're genius musicians, it's that they're the ones singing it. When someone really feels what they're singing and they put their whole life experiences into it you get something that hits you in a way nothing else could.
That difference is what makes me roll my eyes at so many of the mass-market acts of today. They're talented performers, but they're not creating anything. They're just dogs doing tricks for the studio paying them.
All these years later, as a Mom of a young man, when I hear this song it hits differently now; the thought of watching your son throw his life away is terrifying. So far so good! 😂
I havent been so fortunate, I have 3 sons and one daughter, and 2 off my sons (40, 26) are/were deeply into their addictions, my 40 year old son is currently incarcerated, and now my youngest son is going to be heading that way. He is up on charges that could get him 10 years… It has destroyed our family but we support and love them nonetheless unconditionally. Im just grateful I live in Canada where Federal prisons are half decent and I can visit as often as I want. May you continue to be blessed on your journey! ❤❤❤❤
I heard this one for the first time with one of my neighbors. 3 musicians, brothers. They played it like 10 times in a row no kidding and each time we were hearing it was a novelty. An absolute great time. We had to rewind it each time, a freaking tape cassette! 70's musicians had all the package of the past, only instruments, great composers, singers, writers and performers.
Love your video! I grew up with Queen, saw them in 1978 in St Louis MO. I was 16. Queen's music relates to people of all ages and music types. Freddie was from Zanzibar originally, but he considered the UK his home. He would have known that at that time, there had never been a "brown" rockstar. Freddie never told the meaning of this song, only that is was about relationships. Some people speculate that it was him coming to terms with his sexuality. But regardless, it's just a wonderful song. Yes, I can see where people growing up in violence now could relate to the lyrics. Brian May is an amazing guitarist! When his solo starts it reminds me of a caged tiger that was finally let loose after waiting patiently for his turn. There is so much wonderful rock & roll from the 70s and there is no bad song by Queen! Keep listening and keep rocking! *peace*✌
If you've seen Wayne's World you've heard this song. It was featured prominently and actually reignited Queen fandom in the 90's
Wayne's World actually breathed new life into the popularity of Bohemian Rhapsody.
No it never yanks trying to take praise for something that had absolutely nothing to do with them bohemian rhapsody has never lost its popularity in the UK 🤬
@@raywarrington9 first off, not a yank. Second off, worldwide popularity. It's great that it was always a banger in Queen's homeland because it's a banger. Just a brilliant piece of music overall.
Have a great day and be good people yall!
Music has the ability to change your mood and sometimes your mind… when you get the goosebumps, your body is physically reacting to something so powerful that your energy field changes …your hairs shifting and your skin texture changing confirms that biologically, music is more powerful than you may think ❤
Rush has amazing transitions and the three members are top tier musicians. Great music I think you would like.
Exactly! Rush band members were so intelligent. English lit majors, etc. When everyone else was singing the same 2 lines over and over, RUSH was singing intelligent lyrics that were brainy!
You hit the nail on the head. It’s a work of art by a gifted genius. It’s an experience.
I wish I could listen to this song for the first time again. Bohemian Rhapsody is personally my favorite song of all time. This song was one of the few instances where I was immediately hooked the first time I listened to this song. What’s remarkable is that Freddie Mercury wrote and composed this entire song himself, a truly generational talent. Not only does Freddie have one of the most iconic and powerful voices in rock, but he is also one of the greatest frontmen and live performers of all time. You should definitely check out Queen’s live performances and just see how Freddie absolutely held the audience in the palm of his hand.
Your reaction is wonderful :)
You could do a whole series of Queen through the decades until Freddie was taken from us too soon and even after to see how incredible this band was, is, and always will be in the ways they change up their style while still remaining THEM at the core and how incredible their innovations and musicality. Brian May, the lead guitarist, is also an astrophysicist which is utterly astounding, too. Their discography is unbelievable.
People who are experts in singing and music have said that although they didn’t have the same tools to measure someone’s singing during the time Freddie was performing they estimate that he had one of the widest vocal ranges in a man ever! I know he had 3 octaves though
I love the idea of adding a hiphop/rap song recommendation at the end, as someone who never really experienced good hiphop/rap. What would be cool is if you recommended a good one that tackled the same issues as the rock song that you just reviewed. Really tie the two together with a common archetype.
This song is a classic , beloved song around the entire world , in every country. Loved your reaction.
This is Freddie’s coming out song. The man he killed is Farrukh, Balsara ( his birth name) , so that Freddie Mercury could live. It’s his life in 3 parts. He started writing it in college . Your really great!
Keep doing Queen and all of us Queenies will be with you. If you do Queen , you have to do them live, or your missing out.
I like the "painting" comparison. I've also heard the the term "musical buffet" about this song. Both fit so well and are super imaginative.
I love your reactions! You are always so genuine. Being open about you hearing this song before shows that. Keep up the good work! There is so much music to explore (regardless of the skin tone of the people who made the music).
You should check out their movie soundtrack for "Highlander"
Particularly "Who wants to live forever"
Live from Budapest. I dare you not to tear up or outright cry!
The whole soundtrack is some of their heaviest shit they did!
Love, love Queen, and especially this song! Rob, you should really watch the movie, Bohemian Rhapsody. It's pretty great, and gives a decent view into what Freddie's life was like during the forming, and success, of Queen.
Hands down Rob's reaction always crack me up. 😂
From the Album A Night at the Opera.
No choir, just the other 3 band members.
I have heard this song a thousand times & I still get the chills every single time.
I've always liked Somebody to Love; it seems like a stylistic follow-up to this.
Oh and they are my FAVORITE Rock Band.... arguably the greatest.
I think what would be fire would be finding a rap song you are reminded of by the song you're listening to, and analyzing and comparing the two tracks.
If you're looking for vivid and visceral lyricism, anything by Lou Reed would be good. Walk on the Wild Side might be recognizable since Tribe used its very famous bass line as part of the beat to Can I Kick It? But I also think Heroin off of their 1967 album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, would be a fascinating one to cover.
"That song is a [...] experience" and "A song like that, I don't think regular humans can make", "... a painting".
Yes, I couldn't agree more.
Just found your channel going by the thumbnail I thought you were twins🤣🤣 Bohemian Rhapsody has had a billion views on UA-cam. And for the last hundred years we have had football in the UK. Queen's songs are also used in a lot of commercials. Great reaction to legendary Queen. Check out what Freddie Mercury thinks what was even a better song that he wrote called somebody to love live HD Montreal.❤🇬🇧 X
Styx - "Come Sail Away" midway through the song does a similar epic switch.
No matter how many times I hear it, it always fascinates me most that this just exists. The fact it was made, as is. Just its "being here" is too amazing to me to really get sick of it.
I adore Queen. Thanks! This song was written by Freddie Mercury the lead singer and legend. To him the songs were about the music. He let listeners decide what the song meant to them personally. Yes, Freddie was an artist born to produce musical art. Luckily the universe put him with Dr. Brian May is the guitarist (& astrophysicist), John Deacon is the bass player, ( & electrical engineer), Roger Taylor is the drummer and has an amazing high voice so he often was the back up singer. All 4 members wrote hit songs and are in the songwriters hall of fame. Their song catalog is long. Keep going.
"I don't know what the fuk just happened!!"
Love you!!
Yes Rob! Thank you! They’re not human lol 💯
Just gotta say how great it is watching you love this sh*t! 57 year old chick here and I'm STILL banging my head to Rage Against the Machine, Disturbed, and Nine Inch Nails, which you should hear if you haven't yet. Loving you Rob! Thanks for all you do my friend!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Love this song, and enjoyed this reaction. If you love the thought of how someone created this conceptually, you should look into how they made it with the technology of the time. This was the first of its kind too.
Queen is so sick. I would definitely love to see you do some more Queen reactions.
Also if you like cool switch ups in songs "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead would be a good one to do.
I think the best way to describe what you were getting at with the song is that you've heard it before but you haven't "listened" to it.
Freddie once said his favorite instrument...was the audience. His stage presence and skill show him to be able to control audience interaction. The Freddie strut on stage was 100 percent ace.
Brian May and his father actually built the guitar he's playing. Brian holds a doctorate in astrophysics. Try listening to the drummer as he sings. In any band other than Queen he would be lead vocalist...his top range is higher than Freddy's.
Try Queen's live performance at Wembly its considered one of the best live performances ever. It includes "We are the Champions, " We will Rock You" and opens with Bohemian Rhapsody.
This group is classic and timeless...check out the crowd singing on Green day 20 years or so after Freddie passed.
dammit bro you got me up till 2 o clock in the damn morning watching your videos and i gotta work tomorrow 😭🤣
I'm really glad to see people enjoy classics like these, you have a great taste in music. Your channel is great!
Yesterday, I heard the remaining members of the band just sold all of the rights to their music to Sony for over a billion dollars; like $1.7 billion.
Freddie was Iranian blood.
They did a bunch of fancy songs, and I love that, but "Tie Your Mother Down' just rocks and that does it for me.
Omg I love Tie Your Mother Down
I put bomb over baghdad and street spirit in the same category as bohemian rhapsody. outkast is great at the switch up too! and radiohead if you haven't gone there yet
They also did the soundtrack to the Flash Gordon movie and one of my favorite songs Fat Bottom Girls
queen is a hole you can fall into, man. A lot of "reactors" do this one and a couple others but they have so much good shit.
Dude, big fan of your reactions and honest opinions.
Honestly… put in a song that you love so we can react/ appreciate it. Great idea!!!
7:23 I agree, I would love that! Maybe based on the song being featured? Like, “if you like this Queen song, I think you might like this rap song/artist.”
@@5nickel5728 exactly!!!
I know your reactions are pure and I’m here for it!❤
The crime.
The arrest.
The trial:
Asks for mercy.
Pleads.
Begs.
The verdict.
Defiance.
Resignation.
Reflection.
The gallows and then silence.
The Bohemian Rhapsody movie was really fantastic if you want an entertaining way to learn more about Queen. You’ll be amazed by how many hit songs they have that you might not have thought was them.
Gr8 reaction as usual, you put in the work (pay attention and appreciate music in general) and it shows!!!!
Great to see you back! Have a listen to “Another one bites the dust”, the bass line alone will get you pumped! Keep up with the high energy, it’s infectious!
Bro I would *love* some hiphop recs in these vids, especially if you have some songs that have a similar vibe to whatever you're reacting to, whether lyrically or sonically or whatever.
Also, I'm curious if you have any opinion on some of my favorite (white boy) hip hop artists, like Sage Francis, Brother Ali, or Aesop Rock.
Dude was from Zanzibar. Depending on the time, could be more violent than Compton.
I totally get where you were coming from! I am so impressed by many forms of art and their artists and consider they are special people and Freddie and all members of Queen are special and talented people.
First. Love Queen! Favorite bad of ALL TIME.
Freddie Mercury; an artist of extraordinary perception to have even imagined it
Queen are all time greats! Love your reactions to these rock songs. I know you checked out some Tool a while back, but have you heard A Perfect Circle? Same singer as Tool but different band. "So long and thanks for all the fish" is excellent, and the video is amazing too. Would love to see your reaction to that.
A song best heard with headphones on for the stereo separation
Damn, you’re good you’re entertaining just like queen and I appreciate your enthusiasm. Thank you sir.
You should check out "Enter Sandman" live in Moscow.... probably the largest craziest crowd assembled in all of human history, lol. Or, do Lynyrd Skynyrd "Free Bird" live at the Oakland Coliseum. Also, "Ghost Love Score" by Nightwish, live at Wacken Music Festival. The last one is Symphonic Metal... some hard metal, mixed with the most beautiful voice you'll ever hear in your life... making a unique mix...
I do love your stuff, dude. Keep rockin'!
Yo you gotta hear them do The Show Must Go On. Apparently it was recorded only days before he died while he was very ill. By far my favorite Queen song of all time.
I hope you watch the official version some time. It's very immpressive. It's been sung without music by audiences all over the world-check out Hyde Park and Brazil. It was inducted into the Library of Congress last year as a cultural icon. A well deserved honor.
I don't understand why Rob doesnt have more subscribers. this fucking channel should be a couple of millions in by now. keep out the great work bro!!! and don't forget to wake up tiger knee.
It's become something of a theme with UA-cam reactors who primary lean on Hiphop to discover the lyricism of Rock and Metal. Glad to see the communities getting closer together slowly.
Also "Show Must Go On"! 💛
If you enjoy music that changes up a lot, I URGE you to listen to Rush. They have lots of changes in the middle of songs, it's so freaking awesome. I'd recommend of course "Tom Sawyer", but also "YYZ", "The Spirit of Radio", "Limelight" and "Working Man"
Rush for sure, also ELO (Electric Light Orchestra), Supertramp's "The Logical Song" or "Breakfast in America"and Yes "Roundabout"
Thanks for sharing this with us
❤x❤ Freddy forever may be in our heart xx
Love your reactions, they’re so honest and funny 😅. I don’t think you only have to react to things you’ve never heard before or you have to like everything you react to, as long as your feedback is real and authentic. You could react to things you listen all the time, like hip hop, break it down for people that don’t necessarily listen to it. I would watch that. I’m a from Eastern Europe and been listening to all kinds of music all my life but American hip hop has always been difficult for me to get into because of the language and cultural barriers.
I laughed so hard at your shock when you realized Queen was from the UK, I was equally shocked back in the day when I found out Rolling Stones were English, I could’ve sworn they were from the US because they sound so bluesy 😂🤷🏻♀️
I've always felt the song was essentially about refusing to be slave to circumstance. A dire mistake is made, it seems like life is over, he's pleading for help, doesn't want to die. Then all these people start fighting over him, save him, don't save him, calling on Gods and devils. But in the end he chooses for himself - that it doesn't matter if he lives or dies.
The structure of the song always led me to think that's what does matter - how you choose to live and die. Make it epic and fantastical and inspiring as much as you can while you're in it. That's the rhapsody.
Brian May guitar, Rodger Taylor drums, John Deacon bass guitar
YES PLEASE to rap recommendations! I am tragically undercultured. There's a lot of rap I love but I just haven't heard very much and it's hard to keep up with all my musical interests.
Hello, fellow Youngstownian. Saw them in concert in the 80's. They are phenomenal live!
Your journey down the Queen path cannot be complete without Bohemian Rhapsody. In fact, your journey into great MUSIC of the past cannot be complete without Bohemian Rhapsody!
Bohemian Rhapsody, was released in 1975 on the album "A Night at the Opera" which does give a hint as to the musical genre. Freddie Mercury was a huge fan of opera so this song was written as an operatic suite consisting of five distinct parts: an acapella intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock section, and a reflective coda. Generally it is classified as rock-and-roll, but specifically as a "rock opera" and "progressive rock." Truth is, labeling any Queen song, or Queen the band, is next to impossible!
"Bohemian" describes an unconventional, artistic style with freedom and individuality as key elements. "Rhapsody" in musical composition refers to a single work comprised of episodic, diverse pieces arranged into a free-flowing structure designed to heighten emotions. This song came to be because Freddie had pieces of songs he never completed, so he put them together, each section totally different yet masterfully blended into a truly epic masterpiece. It is the band's magnum opus, and is unanimously considered one of the best songs ever written.
As for the meaning of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Freddie was purposefully vague. As with most of the greatest songs, the lyrics are written to be poetic and mysterious. Are they literal or figurative? As separate pieces initially, should the song have a singular meaning? Who knows! The meaning is open to interpretation for each listener to decide, based on how the music and lyrics touched them. You will read comments claiming the song's meaning, but the fact is, the entire band has never stating a specific meaning and has been firm that there isn't one, or if Freddie DID have a specific interpretation, he never shared it.
Been a minute since I’ve been watching street fighter but as a white boy who was in to most of this music already I gotta say I love this series. Just really love watching you enjoy music.
Great reaction, thank you! Queen did not write “Take me out to the ballgame” but boy do you have a huge catalogue of Queen song to delve into, if you do more Queen the Queen army will come, but pls remember the golden rule, never ever pause during a Brian May guitar solo or that same Queen army will come down hard on you!🤣 You must do their set at Live Aid, 21 mins of sheer brilliance, you will love it! Also “Somebody to Love” live at Montreal in 1985. One of my all time favourites! Love from Australia 🇦🇺
Describing this song as a painting is the BEST comparison I've seen for this song 10/10!!
Wow man, you rock, I adore when a handsome young man like you shows his enthusiasm for an old song !!!! Even if this song is an absolute masterpiece, thank you !!!!